A WAVE of criticism was directed at South West Water this week, after a West Devon parish council claimed the company was ignoring putrid smells which ruin residents' lives during summertime.

The stench emanates from Lydford sewerage system, causing misery for many villagers, some of whom are threatening to withold their water fees.

Yet parish councillors say SWW is ignoring their pleas for help.

Steve Meredith, chairman of the council, said the odour was 'awful'.

'In the summer we had an open-air theatre for the millennium celebrations at the back of the castle.

'We had over a hundred people there and the smell was awful, it was a stench, I can't describe it any other way.

'We have this smell for the whole of the summer. Residents were asked to complete complaint forms and South West Water hasn't even acknowledged receipt of them.'

The council has been demanding a public meeting with SWW to discuss the issue since the summer, but the water authority kept 'putting it off', said Mr Meredith.

The council believe the water works were due to be upgraded in March 2002 — but the SWW had failed to give any idea of the extent or content of the work.

'It's frustrating — this has been going on a considerable time but we seem to be getting nowhere,' said Mr Meredith.

David Evans, parish clerk, said the smell stops residents in the lower half of the village from sitting outside in the summer or opening their windows.

'A lot of people are threatening to withold their sewerage charges now,' he said.

The parish council has reported its dissatisfaction with SWW to Ofwat and is enlisting the help of West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett who described the situation as 'unacceptable'.

'I have written to the chief executive and am due to speak to him. I shall be asking him to ensure these works are brought forward.

'The situation is totally unsatisfactory and must be remedied as soon as possible,' he said.

Stephen Swain, spokesman for SWW, denied any lack of response to the council.

He said SWW has a 'huge programme' of works throughout the area, a legacy of years of under-investment.

Mr Swain said: 'The firm news is we have funding for an improvement scheme for Lydford, to be carried out by March 2003.

'We don't see any benefit to a public meeting but we do take the view we should invite representatives of the council to a meeting to talk things through.

'In the meantime we will continue to look at the sewerage system to see if anything can be done to help.'